Iv 



amounted io about a million of money, 

 and no reasonable system of local sani- 

 tary rating eked out by combination of 

 adjoining districts for purposes of inspec- 

 tion, etc., could be expected to hit the 

 ratepayer at lall heavily. It would thus 

 be apparent that the country was in no 

 danger of being ruined by wild sani- 

 tarians, either now or in the future. On 

 the other hand, however, thei-e was a good 

 deal of evidence to show that continued 

 apathy and neglect were likely to cost us 

 & great deal more, individually and collec- 

 tively, than the most advanced system of 

 central and local sanitary administration 

 can ever cost. 



His Excellency said the paper just read 

 was so important that he would suggest 

 the advisability of making it the sole sub- 

 ject of discussion at the next monthly 

 meeting of the society. 



Bishop Mercer said it would help mat- 

 ters if Dr. Elkington's paper were placed 

 before them in print before the next 

 meeting. Perhaps the Government might 

 print it for the society. 



A resolution was passed, asking the Go- 

 vernment to print the paper, as sug- 

 gested. 



His Excellency then called for ques- 



tions or remarks on Mr, Murray's paper, 

 but none being put, 



Mr. Murray said his originial intention 

 had been to speak as to the fuel values of 

 coal generally, and the different ways of 

 treating each one to get the most out of 

 it. He mentioned an instance in which 

 there were 14 different veins of coal, one 

 above the other, with hundreds of feet of 

 sandstone and shale in between. If one 

 thought of the time required for 14 forests 

 to grow, and for a deposition of sand- 

 stone over all these different seams, it al- 

 most took one's breath away. In working 

 the lowest of these seams the miner pass- 

 ed in a few minutes from the bottom to 

 the top ; the period traversed representing 

 millions of years. 



His Excellency moved a vote of thanks 

 to Mr. Mumay and to Dr. Elkington for 

 the papers read. For literary skill, con- 

 scientious ability, and for interest, it 

 would be very difficult to find two papers 

 of such merit. He thought the greatest 

 compliment he could pay to the authors 

 was not to draw any comparison between 

 them. He asked the audience to thank 

 them for the intellectual treat they had 

 afforded their listeners. 



The applause which followed was most 

 cordial, after which the proceedings ter- 

 minated. 



